Play equipment which has been repeatedly vandalised at a popular town park has been removed after parents complained about their children being injured.

The latest incident at Weavers Springs in Earl Shilton involved a five-year-old girl who cut her hand on metal wire exposed following an attack on the jungle swing.

Yobs had pulled off the rope’s end-cap and protective covering, leaving bare twisted wires, as well as cutting through the material on another stretch.

Play equipment at Earl Shilton's Weavers Spring park has been vandalised, leaving bare wires exposed on a swing rope

The schoolgirl’s dad, Lee Braidley, said: “I was helping my three-year-old son Archie across some of the play equipment and Ella was playing on the rope. Then suddenly she came running over to me screaming with blood all over her hand.

“Someone had vandalised the rope leaving the end with twisted metal shards sticking out which you couldn’t really see because of the frayed material around it.

“She had grabbed at it while playing and the metal sliced her hand. It was a terrible shock for her, she was in a lot of pain and the cut was pretty deep. Obviously it was really upsetting for me as well. We live nearby and use the park regularly, you don’t expect to go there on a Saturday morning and see your young daughter injured and in pain. To be honest it has made me think twice about taking the children there again.

“It’s just mindless vandalism which is pretty disappointing. These people don’t have any regard to who it might affect and who might be injured.”

Lee contacted Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council via social media to alert them to the vandalism but as the park is maintained by Earl Shilton Town Council, the information was passed over.

Play equipment at Earl Shilton's Weavers Spring park has been vandalised, leaving bare wires exposed on a swing rope

A spokesman for the authority said they were aware of recent and ongoing problems with attacks on play equipment and had been contacted by a number of concerned parents.

He also said ground staff employed by the town council had been targeted with youths firing BB guns at them and attempts made to break into their machinery shed.

He added: “There is work going on with local agencies including the borough council and police to tackle the problems. We have decided to remove the rope, rather than repair it, which we have done previously. A brand new rope has been ordered and it will be installed when we are confident the issues with vandalism are under control.

“The equipment is only two or three years old so it is frustrating and clearly unacceptable. Whoever is responsible is simply spoiling things for everyone else.”

A spokesman for Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council said: “The council is aware of anti-social behaviour issues in the Weavers Park area. A number of individuals have been identified and the council’s Endeavour team is currently working with partners, including the police and youth offending services, to actively tackle the individuals responsible for the anti-social behaviour.”